What After OPT ?

[Janakishinde]

Hi,

I am now working on my OPT as a Lab Tech. My OPT expires after 4 months and i want to know what are my option after my OPT ends. I started working in this comnpany Sep29th 2009 and my Opt end in july 28th 2010. My employer is willing to file an h1 or green card but according to company rules they cannot as i have to complete atleast a year in this company to sponsor me. How can i keep working for few more ( 2 months) months ? so i can complete my year and then apply for H1 or Green card.
My other question do i have to have a bachelors degree to apply for H1 or Green card ? I have an associates degree from US and my job requires an associates degree. What are the chances to get H1 or green card ?

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you !

[abies]

??

Let me ask this first.
Why do you only have a 10-month OPT period? If you are using post-completion OPT, you should have 12 months unless you've had more than one year of pre-completion OPT. Also, if you are a lab tech, I assume your major was something related to science or engineering. If so, you have a chance to get extra 17 months to work with OPT (STEM extension OPT).

[kabkaba]

H1 job starts on Oct 1, till then you are allowed to work if H1 petition is filed before the end of OPT. For H1 you at least need to have some Bachelors degree (4 year) and the job should require that. There are no other alternative that I can think of.

[Janakishinde]

Thank for replying ... but my OPT started on July 29th and i got this job after 2 months of unemployment period and so my last date of employment is July 28th. And i asked my International Advisor and she said since i have an associates i cannot apply for extension I need to have a bachelors degree to apply for STEM extension. And H1B is not applicable since i dont have a bachelors. Any other Suggestions ??

Thank you .. I appreciate your Time!!!

[abies]

I see...

OK, I understand.

If your highest level of degree is associate's, you cannot get H1B or OPT STEM extension as you already know. But still have a chance to get a green card with some other ways for example by marriage, and GC lottery. But anyways it takes time to get a green card, so you won't be able to keep working at the lab for sure after your current OPT expires. If you just want to stay in the US, the easiest way is to get in a bachelor's program. You may be able to work part-time as an intern with CPT or pre-completion OPT while you study full time.

[Janakishinde]

Thanks i have already started working on my Bachelors application. Thank you for your time . My only promblem on getting back to bachelors is Funds which i have to show for immigration purposes to get in a university. Any ideas on that ? ?

Thank you